After a 12-month mentorship with American master fiddler Casey Driessen, George Jackson delivers a lush collection of bluegrass / celtic instrumentals. Sophistication, maturity and creativity are words that come to mind when listening to ‘Observations’, the five-track collection is energetic and engaging.

The spritely nature of Jackson’s fiddle melody in the opening track South is matched with guitarist Jake Stargel’s masterful articulation in the following K-Bar. Variation of melodic directions and rhythmic structures keep the listener guessing down to the last. Jackson’s jazz influences are evident with some classy treatment given to the harmony of each track. Fifteen is the only one to clock in at under two minutes and is a haunting interlude between the fast pace of the EP’s remainder. Jackson’s lengthy list of award wins seems well-deserved and this is a class ex-pat recording.